Journalists Criticize new Myanmar Press Council to handle Journalism Ethics

The same month the Myanmar government censored two media outlets only to end the suspension when journalists protested, the country’s government created a press council to handle media complaints and create a code of ethics, Eurasia Review reported.

But, Myanmar’s “Organizing Committee for Myanmar Journalists Association” and Eleven Media Group criticized the planned press council, according to Eurasia Review. The journalists’ association claimed the council has been assigned tasks that are “improper” and that “systematically limited the media personnel’s routine careers,” whereas Eleven Media Group said members have a “conflict of interest.”

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Independent Burmese news site Irrawaddy added that the Myanmar Journalists Association said it wouldn’t “take part in the interim press council unless the unacceptable points in the [council’s] obligations are amended.”

We wrote in May when the government said it would “end prior censorship” and create the press council. Journalists groups including the Myanmar Journalists Association questioned the council’s intent at the time.